Pete Wilson endorses Mitt Romney

Former California Gov. Pete Wilson today endorsed Mitt Romney for the GOP nomination, part of a rising move within the party to rally around the frontrunner. Romney has made a big effort to line up high-profile endorsements, although several notables, such as former Florida Gov. and conservative darling Jeb Bush, have remained neutral. Wilson, although considered a conservative in California, is viewed as fairly moderate within the current GOP.

In his endorsement statement, Wilson called Romney “an enthusiastic believer in American exceptionalism” and called him “a spectacular example of it.”

(American exceptionalism is a term traced back to Frenchman Alexis De Toqueville and now de rigueur among modern conservatives, that the United States is unique among nations, in a good way, in contrast to their view that liberals like to denigrate American ideals.)

Wilson cited Romney’s experience as governor of a Democratic state and his electability in his endorsement statement, implying perhaps that such Romney alternatives as Newt Gingrich might damage the party’s down-ballot prospects:

“Mitt has been a success in creating American private sector jobs, a success as the rescuer of the Salt Lake City Olympic games, and as a public chief executive as the Republican governor in the challenging environment of heavily Democratic Massachusetts. It is clear that he will be a success in the White House—as the strong leader America so desperately needs to reverse the unprecedented and utterly irresponsible borrowing, taxing and spending of the Obama administration.

“And as the most electable top of our ticket, his candidacy will attract the support of Republican, Independent and wise Democratic voters—and is rightly seen by down-ticket Republican candidates as the nominee most beneficial to them in their own races. He is the leader we need to rescue this great nation from the tragedy of a second Obama term that threatens grave and perhaps irreparable harm to both our economy and our national security. Mitt Romney will provide the leadership to create the confidence and certainty of judgment needed to stimulate investment that creates jobs rather than green taxpayer-funded bankruptcies. He will restore America’s strength and credibility, and win back respect for America from both our friends and our enemies.”